Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Chicagoland Apartment Association (CAA)?CAA Mission Statement The Chicagoland Apartment Association’s mission is to advance the rental housing industry by providing education, legislative and informational support, enabling members to operate successfully while contributing to the community around them.Incorporated more than two and a half decades ago, CAA is a not-for-profit 501 (C) (6) Illinois corporation. The professional trade association represents owners and operators of rental housing in the metropolitan Chicago-area market: Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, Grundy counties. Approximately half of CAA-member apartments are located in Cook County. Member companies range from owners of two flats to large publically traded national real estate investment trusts. CAA is an affiliate of the National Apartment Association (NAA) based in Washington, DC. NAA is a federation of state and local affiliates. The NAA’s Illinois charter is held by CAA and represents members in the Chicagoland geographic charter area.

What does the CAA do?The CAA offers its members the most comprehensive array of industry resources and advocacy at the state and local level. The CAA is fully staffed, easily accessible and exclusively devoted to the multifamily rental housing industry.

Does the CAA offer career or professional development?

Professional education and resources online and in the classroomAnnually, the CAA offers more than 50 career-relevant half-day, face-to-face education sessions. Topics include industry-best practices including Fair Housing, RLTO and Bed Bug Management. In addition, a wealth of current industry trends and topics are identified to serve member’s education needs. Courses are taught by apartment experts who have topic expertise and a deep knowledge of the industry. Sessions are taught in both Chicago, and in the suburbs.

Industry protection. CAA members know that protecting apartment industry business interests is our association’s primary job and members do it daily.

Lobbying strength. Members save money and grow net operating income (NOI) because CAA monitors and fights harmful legislation with two professional lobbyists—one in Chicago’s City Hall and another at the state capitol in Springfield, IL.

Relevant education. CAA education trains both management and staff and on industry-best practices and trends so that owners and management companies stay relevant in a competitive market.

Introduction to new ideas. Being educated by and involved with other owners gives apartment owners and manages exposure to new ideas that support the rental industry’s business growth. This education fosters staff retention and adds to the bottom-line.

Staff research support. Members have immediate access to the CAA’s full-time staff of six apartment professionals providing members and staff with informational resources. This educational research would take individual members hours or days to develop.

Event interaction. The social interaction at CAA events is one more way to gain insight into cost-effective business operations and new ideas. One new idea can save you thousands of dollars.

Legal support. Remember the old expression: “If you’re not at the table, they’ll eat you for dinner.”